After declaring the auto shop was vacant, Emmett Merriott and Brendan Dezzutti approached the small warehouse on the eastern perimeter.
“I bet that’s where that dog we heard is,” said Emmett, pointing to the building.
“You’re probably right. Let’s approach quietly.”
They stuck to the exterior wall of the auto shop and peered around the corner, looking for signs of life. Brendan held his new tire iron casually at his side, the cold steel felt familiar in his hand. Emmett still held the flashlight he found and was keeping his mind focused by clicking the device on and off. The light was not enough to best the setting sun, so the action gave away only his uneasiness and not their location as well.
“This town smells like sewage,” said Emmett.
“Well, save your breathe then, because we may have to run soon,” said Brendan.
The moment he finished his sentence an oversized guard dog strutted out from within its doghouse.
“Shh,” whispered Emmett, his eyes wide.
Did the dog hear Emmett or smell him through the sewage? Either way, venomous drool splayed from its jaws as the beast rushed toward the men, barking with territorial rage.
“Hey! Someone’s outside,” yelled a voice from within the warehouse.
Brendan and Emmett darted back behind the auto shop and found temporary cover before they had been seen. Two men had emerged from the warehouse, each whose frame doubled that of Emmett and Brendan. Each of these large men had a baseball bat as well.
“This keeps getting better,” complained Emmett as they ran to the fire escape behind the auto shop.
On the roof, they hid behind the furnace box, moving opposite the location of their pursuers who were convinced the men had continued in the direction of the first, empty warehouse that they had checked.
“That gives us some time to make our move,” said Emmett.
“Hey, it looks like Cujo was all bark and no bite after all,” said Brendan, who noticed that the once fierce dog had already returned to its doghouse and was lapping at its water dish. Apparently, this was all more commotion than the guardian of Clarksville was used to.
Emmett suggested that they get the Hell out of there. “Maybe we should just get to the train,” said Emmett.
“I’m not leaving Clarksville without information about my sister,” said Brendan.
Emmett nodded in acknowledgement and then tilted his head in the direction of the warehouse which they had yet to check. Brendan matched his nod and the two of them assessed their surroundings. From where they stood, they could see that the roof of their destination had collapsed in multiple places and that their pursuers were still within the first warehouse.
“If nothing else, it might be a good place to hide,” said Emmett with a smile.
They snuck down the fire escape and slinked their way to the warehouse entry. The door was cracked open and the men let themselves in. No lights were on inside, though, with so many holes in the ceiling, the sun provided light enough for their investigation.
“I bet that thug Tater is in the building guarded by the dog. He probably got a call from Lenora hours ago and is laughing while watching us run. How do you think we can get to him?” asked Emmett. “Man, how are we going to get past that dog?”
“Let’s look around here first. Find cover. We may have to survive another day here if we miss that rogue train.” Brendan looked at his watch. “We’ve got 30 minutes before it shows up.”
“Alright,” said Emmett. “Let’s check this building. Stick close, I don’t want to take one of those bats on without you.”
Brendan was leading the way toward the back of the warehouse when he noticed a trail of blood beneath fallen stone.
“Someone’s under there,” he said.” Help me clear these rocks.
From beneath the dust and rubble, Emmett and Brendan uncovered the squashed remains of the man whom they had sought, Tater Raskin. There could be no mistaking his identity due to the crucifix tied around his neck, which had miraculously remained in-tact.
“We’ve got about ten minutes Emmett. Let’s get this back to Lenora, learn what we can, and hop onto the train before we never leave this town,” said Brendan.
After declaring the auto shop was vacant, Emmett Merriott and Brendan Dezzutti approached the small warehouse on the eastern perimeter.
“I bet that’s where that dog we heard is,” said Emmett, pointing to the building.
“You’re probably right. Let’s approach quietly.”
They stuck to the exterior wall of the auto shop and peered around the corner, looking for signs of life. Brendan held his new tire iron casually at his side, the cold steel felt familiar in his hand. Emmett still held the flashlight he found and was keeping his mind focused by clicking the device on and off. The light was not enough to best the setting sun, so the action gave away only his uneasiness and not their location as well.
“This town smells like sewage,” said Emmett.
“Well, save your breathe then, because we may have to run soon,” said Brendan.
The moment he finished his sentence an oversized guard dog strutted out from within its doghouse.
“Shh,” whispered Emmett, his eyes wide.
Did the dog hear Emmett or smell him through the sewage? Either way, venomous drool splayed from its jaws as the beast rushed toward the men, barking with territorial rage.
“Hey! Someone’s outside,” yelled a voice from within the warehouse.
Brendan and Emmett darted back behind the auto shop and found temporary cover before they had been seen. Two men had emerged from the warehouse, each whose frame doubled that of Emmett and Brendan. Each of these large men had a baseball bat as well.
“This keeps getting better,” complained Emmett as they ran to the fire escape behind the auto shop.
On the roof, they hid behind the furnace box, moving opposite the location of their pursuers who were convinced the men had continued in the direction of the first, empty warehouse that they had checked.
“That gives us some time to make our move,” said Emmett.
“Hey, it looks like Cujo was all bark and no bite after all,” said Brendan, who noticed that the once fierce dog had already returned to its doghouse and was lapping at its water dish. Apparently, this was all more commotion than the guardian of Clarksville was used to.
Emmett suggested that they get the Hell out of there. “Maybe we should just get to the train,” said Emmett.
“I’m not leaving Clarksville without information about my sister,” said Brendan.
Emmett nodded in acknowledgement and then tilted his head in the direction of the warehouse which they had yet to check. Brendan matched his nod and the two of them assessed their surroundings. From where they stood, they could see that the roof of their destination had collapsed in multiple places and that their pursuers were still within the first warehouse.
“If nothing else, it might be a good place to hide,” said Emmett with a smile.
They snuck down the fire escape and slinked their way to the warehouse entry. The door was cracked open and the men let themselves in. No lights were on inside, though, with so many holes in the ceiling, the sun provided light enough for their investigation.
“I bet that thug Tater is in the building guarded by the dog. He probably got a call from Lenora hours ago and is laughing while watching us run. How do you think we can get to him?” asked Emmett. “Man, how are we going to get past that dog?”
“Let’s look around here first. Find cover. We may have to survive another day here if we miss that rogue train.” Brendan looked at his watch. “We’ve got 30 minutes before it shows up.”
“Alright,” said Emmett. “Let’s check this building. Stick close, I don’t want to take one of those bats on without you.”
Brendan was leading the way toward the back of the warehouse when he noticed a trail of blood beneath fallen stone.
“Someone’s under there,” he said.” Help me clear these rocks.
From beneath the dust and rubble, Emmett and Brendan uncovered the squashed remains of the man whom they had sought, Tater Raskin. There could be no mistaking his identity due to the crucifix tied around his neck, which had miraculously remained in-tact.
“We’ve got about ten minutes Emmett. Let’s get this back to Lenora, learn what we can, and hop onto the train before we never leave this town,” said Brendan.